France celebrates national day

French charge d’ affaires Fabrice Leggeri gives a speech at the French residence in Seoul on Friday to mark France’s National Day. (Robert Lee/The Korea Herald)

The French Embassy celebrated its National Day while reflecting on its growing diplomatic relations with Korea, in Seoul on Friday.

The reception, which commemorated the storming of the Bastille fortress in 1789, was also an occasion to applaud the long standing relationship Korea and France have enjoyed. France and Korea established diplomatic relations in 1886.

French Charge d’ affaires Fabrice Leggeri called the relationship “strong and substantial,” during a speech at the French residence. Leggeri cited Korea-France discussions on the sidelines of the G20 summit meetings, and mutual visits of presidents and officials as some of the reasons for such strong relations.

Leggeri also noted that Korea-France relations go beyond diplomacy to include economic, scientific and cultural fields. He mentioned that Korean and French are working closely in the field of cinema and that researchers are cooperating in the field of mathematics.

French Ambassador Elisabeth Laurin returned to France before the event to take up her post as the Director General for Asia and the Pacific at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The embassy awaits the appointment of the new ambassador.